Paper sheet with high/low density polyethylene

ABSTRACT

A multi-ply paper tissue includes at least one ply formed of LDPE/HDPE. The LDPE/HDPE ply is thermally bonded to the other ply or plys of the tissue.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of paper tissue, and to the particular field of facial tissue, napkins, disposable handkerchiefs and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Paper webs or sheets, sometimes called tissue or paper tissue webs or sheets, or herein called paper tissue, find extensive use in modern society. Such items as facial and toilet tissues are staple items of commerce, all of which are herein referred to as paper tissue. It has long been recognized that important physical attributes of these products are their strength and thickness/caliper, their softness and smoothness, their absorbency, and their lint resistance. Research and development efforts have been directed to the improvement of each of these attributes without seriously affecting the others as well as to the improvement of two or three attributes simultaneously.

Softness and smoothness relate to the tactile sensation perceived by the consumer when holding a particular product, rubbing it across the skin, or crumpling it within the hands. This tactile sensation is a combination of several physical properties. One of the more important physical properties related to the softness and smoothness is generally considered by those skilled in the art to be the surface structure of the paper tissue from which the tissue product is made As important for the tactile sensation of consumers is the thickness/caliper of a tissue product.

Strength is the ability of the product to maintain physical integrity and to resist tearing, bursting, and shredding under use conditions. Absorbency is the measure of the ability of a product to absorb quantities of liquid, particularly aqueous solutions or dispersions. Overall absorbency as perceived by the consumer is generally considered to be a combination of the total quantity of a liquid a given mass of paper tissue will absorb at saturation as well as the rate at which the mass absorbs the liquid.

Lint resistance is the ability of the fibrous product, and its constituent webs, to bind together under use conditions, including when wet. In other words, the higher the lint resistance is, the lower the propensity of the web to lint will be. Relatively thick disposable paper products, namely in the form of paper handkerchiefs and facial tissues, are known. A high caliper conveys the idea of high dry and wet strength to the consumer. A high wet strength, also referred to as wet burst strength, in particular prevents tearing or bursting which in turn results in contamination of the user's hand with mucus or other bodily fluids.

Even thicker disposable paper products are known and typically used as kitchen towels, such as Bounty®, sold by The Procter & Gamble Company, which has a caliper of about 0.7 mm and a wet burst strength which is greater than 200 g. However such kitchen towels to a considerable extent owe their caliper to embossing over the whole surface which results in a surface texture which is rough and does not provide a suitably smooth wiping surface for blowing the nose.

Other products with high wet burst strength and typically a relatively high caliper are those produced by through-air-drying. Though-air-drying facilities, however, are not available on conventional paper making machines and the provision of such equipment means a considerable financial investment. In theory, the wet strength and caliper of a product can be increased by increasing the number of plies to 5, 6 or even more (instead of embossing or the like) and thereby maintaining a smooth outer surface. However, this approach would be very costly and also lead to a stiff product, hence compromising tactile perception.

In attempting to provide a very smooth surface it is common in the art to subject paper tissue to calendering. However, calendering always means a trade-off of caliper and softness for smoothness. In view of the prior art there remains a need for a tissue product, in particular a facial tissue, which: combines optimal strength, namely wet burst strength, absorbency and lint resistance; further gives an ideal tactile sensation of softness, smoothness and thickness; is cost effective to manufacture and preferably can be manufactured on conventional paper machines; and optionally provides skin care benefits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a multi-ply paper tissue that includes at least one ply formed of LDPE/HDPE. The LDPE/HDPE ply is thermally bonded to the other ply or plys of the tissue. The paper tissue can be used as a napkin if the user is eating food that may be messy, such as ribs or the like, or as a tissue into which his or her nose is blown, or as a cleaning wipe, or even as a toilet tissue, or the like. The ply of LDPE/HDPE is bonded to the ply, or plys, of soft paper so the tissue has the feel and absorbency of a normal tissue, but has protection against fluid passing through the tissue. The tissue can be perfumed, or decorated, or can contain other fluids as will occur to those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-ply tissue embodying the present invention in the folded condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-ply tissue shown in FIG. 1 illustrating that the tissue has three plys.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 multi-ply tissue embodying the present invention in the unfolded condition and which includes decorations on one of the plys.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the tissue embodying the present invention in which LDPE/HDPE is impregnated into one or more plys.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a paper tissue 10 which comprises a first ply 12 of paper and a second ply 14 of LDPE (low density polyethylene)/HDPE (high density polyethylene). A thermal bond 16 bonds the first ply to the second ply. Another form of the tissue is shown in FIG. 2 as tissue 10′ which includes a third ply 18 of paper thermally bonded to the second ply 14 to sandwich the second ply between the first ply and the second ply.

As indicated in FIG. 3, a multi-ply tissue 10′ can include decorations 20 on one ply. Furthermore, another form of the invention is indicated in FIG. 4 in which a tissue 10′″ has LDPE/HDPE 22 is impregnated into one or more plys.

As discussed above, the tissue can be impregnated with antibacterial material, perfume, soap or the like if desired. The tissue can be any size and can be dispensed from any suitable dispenser. The second layer of LDPE/HDPE prevents fluids from penetrating from one layer to another and thus will prevent fluid from reaching the hand of a user. Accordingly, any use in which such result is desired is suitable for the tissue embodying the present invention.

Various combinations of LDPE/HDPE and/or standard paper can be used to achieve various results. For example, one form of the invention includes 85-90% LDPE and 15-10% HDPE; another form includes 5-10% LDPE or HDPE and 95-90% standard paper on one side; yet another form includes 10-20% LDPE or HDPE and 90-80% standard paper on one side; still another form includes 15-25% LDPE or HDPE and 85-75% standard paper on one side. All percentages are by weight.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. 

1. A paper tissue comprising: A) a first ply of paper; B) a second ply of LDPE/HDPE; and C) a thermal bond bonding the first ply to the second ply.
 2. The paper tissue defined in claim 1 further comprising a third ply of paper and a thermal bond bonding the third ply to the second ply, the second ply being sandwiched between the first ply and third ply.
 3. The paper tissue defined in claim 2 further including decoration on the first ply.
 4. The paper tissue defined in claim 1 wherein the percentage by weight of LDPE is in a range between 5% by weight to 90% by weight.
 5. The paper tissue defined in claim 1 wherein the percentage by weight of HDPE is in a range between 5% by weight to 90% by weight. 